SC Landowners Receive Notice of Survey Work for Elba Express Pipe
In April, MDN told you about a new greenfield expansion of Kinder Morgan’s Elba Express pipeline into South Carolina to serve growing demand for natural gas in the state (see KM Pipes Update: Expand Elba to SC; SSE4 Survey Work Done). The $431 million Elba Express Bridge project is designed to provide 325 million cubic feet per day (MMcf/d) of firm transportation capacity to a new gas-fired power plant in Colleton County, SC (see SC PSC Approves Gas-Fired Power Plant Proposed for Edisto River). Letters have been sent to 185 landowners in South Carolina along the proposed route, requesting permission to survey their land for the project. Read More “SC Landowners Receive Notice of Survey Work for Elba Express Pipe”
Southwestern Pennsylvania faces a time-sensitive opportunity to capitalize on the AI data center boom, with small and midsized manufacturers positioned to play a key role, industry experts said at a recent conference held in Pittsburgh. The rush to build advanced facilities, which have extensive physical, energy, and technology requirements, demands speed and coordination. Panelists highlighted Pennsylvania’s abundant natural gas and diverse energy potential as critical for powering centers, while noting that regulatory frameworks, workforce capacity, and supply chain readiness are equally vital. With $92 billion in committed investment, the region could leverage this moment if policies, energy costs, and development incentives align effectively. The question is, will SWPA be able to pull it off? 
Energy companies are set to invest nearly $50?billion over the next five years in building or expanding 8,800 miles of U.S. natural gas pipelines to meet soaring domestic consumption, record LNG exports, and growing data center demand, greatly aided by regulatory changes under President Trump. Surging gas production, particularly in the Permian Basin as a byproduct of crude oil output, has outpaced pipeline and processing capacity, resulting in occasional negative Waha prices and production slowdowns. Major operators, such as Kinder Morgan and Enbridge, face record backlogs but continue to expand, especially in Texas and the Gulf Coast, with future gas growth tied to sustained oil prices. 
Last week, FERC voted to sunset 53 outdated and unnecessary regulations to advance the Commission’s core mission of ensuring reliable, safe, secure, and economically efficient energy for consumers at a reasonable cost. The actions respond to President Trump’s Executive Order “Zero-Based Regulatory Budgeting to Unleash American Energy” issued in April 2025, which directs agencies to incorporate a sunset provision into their regulations governing energy production to stimulate innovation and deliver prosperity to everyday Americans. Bear in mind, this action comes from the current three FERC commissioners, which include two Democrats and one Republican. 
The Europeans have tried to regulate the U.S. oil and gas industry for more than a year (see 
OTHER U.S. REGIONS: The math does not support New York’s climate plan; Record Waha gas price crash as outbound flows constrained; NATIONAL: Natural gas futures rise amid forecasts of cold snap; Stable crude oil prices, increasing refinery margins in third quarter of 2025; Together, power plants and greenhouses can feed humanity; Wind, solar projects can stick taxpayers with the tab coming and going; INTERNATIONAL: Oil rises after modest OPEC+ output hike; European Union’s US gas use set to soar, increasing price volatility; Undersea bacteria feast on methane.